Calculator

Michaeljp86

Today at lowes I seen some sort of construction calculator, had a button for walpaper or fencing, paint and other stuff. Im not sure how it worked but it looked cool. Does anyone here have one? It was $20 and Im thinging about picking one up. Im not sure how the heck it works.

RobertCDF

Those ones are knock offs of construction master calculators. The construction masters are worth the money but I dont know about the knock off.

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
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Michaeljp86

Maybe I should watch for a construction master then.

steves

Those things are fine for adding strings of measurements
I carry one in my pouch. After breaking 3-4 $60 caculators.
Keep the const. master in the truck, use the cheepo for day to day abuse.

Steve.

Michaeljp86

What do the buttons that say flooring and fenc, paint etc for?

steves

I think those functions are just sq. ft. conversions.
As far as the fence one if I rember right it tells you how many posts at 8' spacing.
All pretty useless if you can do some simple math. But probbly sells more to the H/O crowd.

Steve.

Tmrrptr

Who cares how it works ???

u can't buy a good hammer for $20 anymore.

Just whip that baby out and mumble a bit while walking from room to room, pushing buttons and taking normal notes.

It will impress the heck out of a client more than a new hammer!
r

Michaeljp86

The more buttons then more they are impressed.

Michaeljp86

The more buttons then more they are impressed. They think man this guy is smart.

McMasters

I don't mean to seem like a wise guy but how much wallpaper would you use in your trade? I have one of those cheap units - more for the big buttons and resistance to drywall compound etc. though sometimes it comes in handy.

But once you know how many studs it takes to build an eight foot length of wall, simple head math will do just fine. These devices use a table of known materials to calculate how many units of are needed. For example how many sheets of 4 x 8 drywall will it take to cover 100 sg foot of wall Ans - divide by 35 sg ft. etc etc .

I'd save the $20 for a good trades building guide or code book etc or maybe a down payment on a really usefull calculator for your trade.

skymaster

Mc Masters: shhhhhhhhhhhhh 32 sq ft not 35
JackM

Michaeljp86

I never did buy it, I still couldnt figure out why it would really be useful. I have 2 really nice scientific calculators, it may take a few seconds longer to figure it out but I think there would be less of a chance of a mistake. I will probably get a really nice construction calculator some day if its something I think I could really use.

POOLMANinCT

I rely on one of those tenth grade classes, all those #s, letters & funny shapes.......
oh yeah a mean tough nun......

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......Less with the jaw & More with the paw.....

Tom R

Please don't buy a calculator that says 'wallpaper', 'fencing', or 'whatever'

They must've stole that from 'McDonalds', - - don't their cash registers say 'burger', 'fries', 'milk-shake', 'whatever'?? . . .

Tom R

Maybe that's the number that works for him after deducting doors and windows and adding scrap??

JustaFramer

Actually the calc you are or were looking at is the measure master pro or projectcalc plus. It is made by calculated industries that make the construction master series.

They are not that useful other than for take off. You want a CM calc go to their website the Pro and Trig are cheaper than I have found locally in my case.

I use the CM5 less functions than the pro or trig. For what I need it for in the field it has already paid for itself.

Michaeljp86

Yours is the best post Ive read so far

Mrmac204

I have the construction master pro - I don't need it often, but it sure is handy when I have an off-angle corner for installing crown. I have a scientific one as well, for the occasional time when I need a sine/cosine etc... well worth the money.

POOLMANinCT

ever "pretended " to calculate in fron of prospects, I have.

I already knew my magic # but thought it best to "hit some buttons"

__________________
......Less with the jaw & More with the paw.....

wallmaxx

I like the "ruggedized" Armadillo case. The pro / trig has most features.

If you want to try another vendor just google Jobber 6. I saw an architect using one - so I asked him to show it to me. It has some cool features but don't carry it in your bags.

Or if you are determined - buy an HP programmable calc and write your own code in RPN. I'll let you know how that's going some day.

Mike